Allakhverdiev, a recent Top Rank signee, needed an opponent that the U.S boxing public was familiar with, but not someone so good that they would potentially beat him. Prescott’s name was picked despite the fact that he’s lost two out of his last four fights and is no longer ranked in the top 15 by any of the sanctioning bodies.

Prescott may not be the greatest of the light welterweight opponents, but he’s definitely a much more appealing option than the original opponent Karim Mayfield (17-0-1, 10 KO’s) they were looking to put in with Allakhverdiev. Prescott’s a bigger puncher.

HBO liked the idea of Mayfield facing Allakhverdiev, but fortunately a deal couldn’t be made and the arguably more exciting – and competitive – Prescott was found. Prescott has a chance to win this fight if he can land something big in the first six rounds before he starts to tire. You can’t say the same for 32-year-old Mayfield.

Prescott defeated Amir Khan by a 1st round knockout in 2008. Prescott also has a win over Richard Abril. However, Prescott has since lost to Kevin Mitchell, Miguel Vazquez, Paul McCloskey and Mike Alvarado, and that’s caused his star to dim.

Rios-Alvarado is fighting again because their promoter Bob Arum wants to see them fight each other again. Rios already stopped Alvarado in the 7th round last October, but because the fight was competitive for six rounds before Rios stopped him, Arum wants to see a rematch. We could see another rematch if the fight is competitive again because it doesn’t look like Arum has much for either fighter in terms of fights.